Languages, Power and Cultures Programme 2026
Trinity College Cambridge
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Curious how language shapes power and culture? Join Trinity College Cambridge's Languages, Power and Cultures Programme: explore lectures from leading academics, build analytical skills and get a taste of uni study, online and in-person. Apply by 5 January 2026
Trinity College Cambridge's Languages, Power and Cultures Programme 2026 is an online and in-person outreach programme designed to introduce Year 12 (England/Wales), S5 (Scotland) and Year 13 (Northern Ireland) students to how language and culture shape societies. The programme consists of six live online lectures delivered by Cambridge academics across Classics, Linguistics, Archaeology, Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, and Modern and Medieval Languages, giving students a taste of university-style teaching in the arts and humanities.
All registered students can attend the six online webinars (5pm–6pm). A subset of participants will be selected, using widening participation criteria, to take part in three small-group peer discussion sessions led by current Trinity undergraduates (5pm–6pm on 10 Feb, 3 Mar and 24 Mar).
Successful applicants may also be invited to a two-day residential in Cambridge (10:30 on 13 April to 14:30 on 14 April) featuring additional academic tasters, outreach/application guidance, and social activities.
The programme is free to attend. For students invited to the residential, Trinity will cover food, accommodation and travel to Cambridge (additional night possible for those travelling long distances).
Applicants should complete the online application form including a short personal statement and indicate which elements they wish to attend; a teacher reference is required for those applying to the peer groups and residential.
05 Jan 2026
03 Feb 2026 – 31 Mar 2026
Six online webinars (5pm–6pm series)
10 Feb 2026 – 24 Mar 2026
Small-group peer discussion sessions (three sessions)
13 Apr 2026 – 14 Apr 2026
Two-day in-person residential visit
Location
- Open to students currently in Year 12 (England and Wales), S5 (Scotland), or Year 13 (Northern Ireland).
- You do not need to be studying a language to apply; interest in how societies express culture and identity through language is sufficient.
- Peer discussion groups and the in-person residential are only available to students attending a UK school that does not charge fees (state schools).
- Applicants for peer discussion groups and the residential must provide the contact details of a teacher willing to supply a supporting reference (teacher reference deadline: 6pm Monday 12 January 2026).
- Selected students for the residential must be available for the full residential dates (see programme dates).
- Selection for peer mentoring sessions and the residential will use widening participation criteria; preference may be given to students who are first in their family to attend university, attend schools that send few students to Oxbridge, are from under-represented ethnic groups, live in low-progression areas, have spent time in care, have significant caring responsibilities, are/were eligible for free school meals or the 16–19 bursary, or are refugees/asylum seekers.
The programme is completely free to attend. For students selected for the residential, Trinity College will cover the cost of food, accommodation, and travel to Cambridge.
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